In the midst of his being blocked out of a few runs and not getting anywhere near the quarterback, there was an extremely encouraging constant in the 23 snaps Larry English played last Sunday in his 2011 preseason debut.

He was relentless.

Scoff if you must, those seeming multitudes who have already written off English as the Buster Davis of the defense, but his performance was almost Merriman-esque in that way. He was everywhere, chasing down runners, going sideline to sideline to try to make plays.

Whether English eventually does make those plays on anything remotely comparing to what Merriman did for three seasons in San Diego is a long ways from being determined.

But in that English in March underwent a second foot surgery in six months, the fact he did not come off the field while the Chargers defense was in during the first half and was generally quick off the line and never stopped churning has to be seen as a positive first step.

English will take another step Saturday night in the Chargers’ third preseason game, 7 p.m. against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“It’s a position he’s getting familiar with over the last couple weeks,” said Chargers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. “He’s making progress. It’s not like he’s been through a whole training camp. He missed the first 10 days when most of the major installation going on. He’s working through it. He’s got to keep on working at it. He’s improving.”

With that quote, Manusky explained more than he probably knew he was, because the Chargers’ new defensive coordinator is saying virtually the same thing former coordinator Ron Rivera was saying at the start of last training camp.

English was in 2010 the personification of the often-ignored reality that playing does not equal being healthy.

He was impressive early last August, showing off some new moves, things he’d learned in matriculating from a college defensive end to a pro outside linebacker. But he fractured his foot even before the first preseason game. After playing the season’s first two games, he succumbed to surgery at the end of September. He returned to play in the beginning of November with screws still in his foot and even had 1½ sacks on Dec. 12 against Kansas City.

Yet the foot was never right and he played just one snap the rest of the season. When doctors determined the healing process had not gone as hoped. English underwent another surgery in March.

He began this training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list and just returned to practice two weeks ago. The game against the Dallas Cowboys was his first.

Truly, the past 12 months comprise a lost year in the development of the Chargers’ 2009 first-round draft pick.

“As much as I don’t want to say it was,” English said. “As a football player, you take what happens in stride and you have to make the best of it. But you learn and you grow the best on the field.”

Well, he’s finally back on it – and healthy.

English has adopted an increasingly reserved persona over the past two years likely shaped by the setbacks and letdowns. He is a man of fewer and fewer words and allows little when he does talk.

But he acknowledges his first two NFL seasons have been less than he’d like.

“I haven’t performed up to expectations – my expectation either,” he said.

If fans think they’re ready for him to get out and do so …

“My mentality is wanting to play, wanting to run and keep progressing,” English said. “Today is the time, now is the time.”